Photo Courtesy of Lola ya Bonobo

Lola ya Bonobo is a bonobo sanctuary on the outskirts of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the only bonobo sanctuary, and now has about 56 bonobo orphans. Claudine Andre, a dedicated and skilled expert, founded and continues to manage Lola ya Bonobo (the Bonobo Paradise in Lingala, the local language).

Photo Courtesy of Lola ya Bonobo

Deforestation in DRC, and the resulting trade in bushmeat, has produced a number of bonobo orphans. Most of these are infants, taken from their mothers after the mothers were shot for food. Some have been poached for the pet trade, and subsequently confiscated or abandoned. Most of these animals are injured or ill when first seen, and even if they were healthy they would be unlikely to survive if returned to the forest without extensive support. Ms. Andre is preparing a group of bonobos for reintroduction to a forested site provided by a logging company, which has agreed to preserve the forest in the area. Great Ape Trust has provided financial support to Lola ya Bonobo since 2005, and allocated $6,000 for sanctuary management in 2007.

Photo Courtesy of Lola ya Bonobo

Lola ya Bonobo and the Chimpanzee Conservation Center are two chimpanzee sanctuaries among 19 primate sanctuaries operating in 12 African nations under the umbrella of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA).  PASA ensures coordinated long-term planning and collaboration among its members, provides professional training for sanctuary staff members, and bridges the sanctuary network with the larger community of primatologists. The result has been steadily increasing professionalism and standards for animal care.

Web site: http://www.lolayabonobo.org/

bonobo QUICK FACTS:
FACT: Bonobos are native to the Congo FACT: Bonobos hair is long and black and parted in the middle FACT: Bonobo (Pan paniscus ) Est. 10,000-20,000 in wild FACT: Today 23% of their habitat remains. By 2030, an estimated 4% will remain.